Vietnam War History

Vietnam War History

The Vietnam War has its roots in French colonialism and World War II. The French pull-out of Vietnam after their defeat at Dien Bien Phou left the country divided between the Communist North and Western-backed South. The United States became increasingly involved as the North threatened to take over the South. In May of 1961, President Kennedy sent 400 military advisors to South Vietnam to train their soldiers. Regular United States’ ground troops began arriving in 1965 under President Johnson’s administration. From 1965 to 1969 approximately 800,000 U.S. military personnel were involved in the war in an attempt to stop this communist aggression. Fifty-eight thousand Americans gave their lives. More than three million people, many Vietnamese citizens, also died between 1955 and 1975. The war ended in 1975 after communist forces seized control of Saigon. The country was then unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The following year, with the name of the City of Saigon changed to Ho Chi Minh City.

About Annie Laura Smith

Annie Laura Smith worked in the computer industry and is a retired Senior Systems Engineer and Technical Writer. She is a native Floridian, and grew up in Ocala. She received her Master’s Degree in Science Education from the University of Florida, and is a life-long Gator fan. She has lived in California and Texas, but now resides in the Tennessee Valley in Northern Alabama. She has two children, a son and a daughter. She taught Chemistry, Mathematics, and Learning Skills courses at the University of Florida and the University of Texas at Dallas. Other instruction included Writing for Publication courses at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the Institute of Children’s Literature. She currently teaches Efficient Reading: Improving Speed and Comprehension and Getting More from Books: Intro to Literary Analysis on the website: www.jergroup.com.

Her earlier historical novels are set during World War II. These include: The Legacy of Bletchley Park, Will Paris Burn?, Saving da Vinci, and Alexandra’s Secret. Her new novel, Twilight of Honor, is now available on Amazon through The Ardent Writer Press.

Annie Laura Smith now writes from Huntsville, Alabama. She has over 400 publications, articles and reviews in the areas of fiction and nonfiction for children, curriculum materials for children and adults, general interest, inspirational and technical articles, book reviews, test materials, and poetry.